Electrician License from New York to Virginia: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Does Virginia accept a New York electrician license?
There is no New York state license to carry to Virginia: New York issues no statewide journeyman electrician license. Virginia does license this work, so ask the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) - Board for Contractors whether it credits a local license or your documented experience; otherwise you qualify as a new applicant.
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Verdict
No state license to transfer
The issue on this move is the starting point: New York issues no statewide journeyman or master electrician license, so there is no New York state license for Virginia to verify, endorse or reciprocate. Virginia does license electricians, through the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) - Board for Contractors, and it licenses out-of-state electricians by endorsement — but that route starts from a state license. Ask the board, in writing, whether it credits a local New York license or your documented hours; otherwise plan for its new-applicant route and exam. Virginia waives its journeyman tradesman exam under an examination-reciprocity agreement only for applicants holding the corresponding license in the District of Columbia, Kentucky, or West Virginia; an applicant licensed in any other state may instead qualify to sit - but must pass - the Virginia journeyman tradesman exam by submitting a current out-of-state license and letter of good standing.
What's different between New York and Virginia
Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into Virginia. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.
- Route, each way
New York to Virginia (this page): No state license to transfer.
Virginia to New York (the reverse move): No state license to transfer.
New York issues no statewide journeyman electrician license, so neither direction is a state-license transfer.
- Does coming from New York matter?
Coming from New York matters here: only 13 of 50 origins (the other 49 states and DC) get this result for a move into Virginia.
The others get: licensure by endorsement (34) and reciprocity agreement (3).
- Reciprocity agreements
Virginia's reciprocity agreement list names 3 states (District of Columbia, Kentucky, and West Virginia), not including New York.
- Fee and processing
New York issues no statewide journeyman electrician license, so there is no New York state license application fee or processing time to compare with Virginia's.
- Exam rules on record
Virginia and New York carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.
- Virginia (this move): Virginia waives its journeyman tradesman exam under an examination-reciprocity agreement only for applicants holding the corresponding license in the District of Columbia, Kentucky, or West Virginia; an applicant licensed in any other state may instead qualify to sit - but must pass - the Virginia journeyman tradesman exam by submitting a current out-of-state license and letter of good standing
- New York (the reverse move): New York issues no statewide electrician license, so there is no state exam to transfer or waive; licensing is municipal. In New York City the Department of Buildings requires its own written and practical Master/Special Electrician exams and grants no interstate reciprocity; other municipalities set their own exams.
What changes, New York → Virginia
| New York (current) | Virginia (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | No statewide license; municipal fees vary and are not published on a single state page. NYC Master/Special Electrician fees set by the Department of Buildings were not captured from an official page here | $171.75 (Reciprocity or examination method fee is $171.75 (includes the 2026 HB 30 $7.25/year technology fee); card exchange is $131.75; if the exam is not waived the PSI exam sitting fee is charged separately) |
| Processing time | No statewide process; timelines are set by each municipality | DPOR does not publish a processing timeframe on the tradesman application |
| Licensing authority | No statewide electrician board — municipal licensing (e.g., New York City Department of Buildings) | Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) - Board for Contractors |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Virginia sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Review Virginia's requirements on the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) - Board for Contractors website (linked below) — rules change.
- Ask the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) - Board for Contractors whether it credits a local New York license or your documented experience: New York issues no statewide journeyman electrician license, so there is no state license to verify.
- Otherwise apply as a new applicant: meet Virginia's education/experience requirements and pass the exams it requires.
- Submit the application with fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.
Official links
Related guides
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- VA DPOR Board for Contractors - Reciprocal Licensing/Examination Agreements with Other Jurisdictions ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- VA DPOR - Tradesman Exam & License Application (A501-2710EXLIC) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NYC Department of Buildings — Master Electricians & Special Electricians (license types; no journeyman) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NYC Department of Buildings — Obtain a Master & Special Electrician License (experience and exam requirements) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
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